Review by Booklist Review
/*STARRED REVIEW*/ Gr. 3-6. Using their distinctive picture book biography format made popular in their volumes on Shaka, Shakespeare, and Dickens, Stanley and Vennema present the life of a legend, Cleopatra. The artwork includes full-page paintings of dramatic scenes as well as impressive painted mosaics that make up the jacket art, title page, and the background for the text. The story concerns Cleopatra's life from the age of 18, when she became the queen of Egypt (51 B.C.), through her liaisons with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony, and her struggle to bring back Egypt's former glory, to her death at the age of 39. One of the most impressive qualities of this beautiful book is its recognition of the problems of researching and writing history. Not only does a note introduce Plutarch as the main source, but it also discusses why Plutarch's account may not be entirely reliable. Even in the text, the authors point out areas of doubt or inconsistency. Taken simply as a story, the book has a sumptuous setting, heroic characters, name recognition, high drama, and a tragic ending. An intriguing portrait. (Reviewed September 15, 1994)0688104134Carolyn Phelan
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
"This peerless author/artist team makes the captivating... Cleopatra seem astoundingly real," said PW in a starred review. Ages 7-up. (Aug.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 3-6-``It is traditionally believed that Cleopatra dazzled Caesar with her great beauty. Instead, it was the power of her intelligence and personality that drew him to her.'' In this lively, well-crafted biography, Stanley and Vennema brush the cobwebs from the popularly held portrait of Cleopatra to reveal a vital, warm, and politically adroit ruler. Lucid writing combines with carefully selected anecdotes, often attributed to the Greek historian Plutarch, to create an engaging narrative. The young queen's marriage to her brother Ptolemy XIII is placed in the context of practices of the rulers of the day. A ``Note on Ancient Sources'' and a map precede the text; an epilogue, pronunciation guide, and a brief bibliography are appended. Stanley's stunning, full-color gouache artwork is arresting in its large, well-composed images executed in flat Greek style. The palette is as rich and sumptuous as the court at Alexandria. Cover art and endpapers simulate period mosaics; the text is set against a faux-tile backdrop that reinforces the book's design and illustration. The figures of Cleopatra, Julius Caesar, and Mark Antony stride powerfully across scenes of Egypt and the Roman Empire. Finally, Cleopatra emerges as a savvy, astute, and complex leader who followed both her heart and mind.-Carolyn Noah, Central Mass. Regional Library System, Worcester, MA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
The authors have succeeded brilliantly in bringing the power and magnificence of Cleopatra and her world to life. Her compelling story is told in a simple, straightforward text, often focusing on episodes and details of interest to young readers, and carefully pointing out still-unresolved ambiguities in the source materials. The dazzling illustrations, complete with rich mosaic designs, give life and excitement to the dramatic story. Bib. From HORN BOOK 1994, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Cleopatra was a Greek-descended Egyptian queen near the turn of the first millennium. While Julius Caesar was trying to unite the world under Rome, Cleopatra was harboring similar hopes for Alexandria. When the rulers met, however, they fell in love and attempted to conquer the world together. Cleopatra stayed with Caesar until his death in 44 b.c., and afterwards she began the affair with Mark Antony that would continue until both their deaths. As the authors state in a prefatory note, the sources about Cleopatra-- other than Plutarch--are patchy and often negative, having been written by her enemies, and the only pictures we have of her are from the coins minted during her rule. Stanley and Vennema use these sources to try to give an accurate account of Cleopatra's life. In striving for accuracy, however, the authors sacrifice the romance of the story. Stanley's drawings, on the other hand, are exquisitely wrought with vivid color and fine mosaic detail. Stanley and Vennema's latest illustrated biography is a beautifully decorated, dull account of one of the most powerful women rulers of all time. Bibliography and pronunciation guide. (Biography/Picture book. 7+)
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